How to Play Bubblebound: The Lost Worlds

The Story and Your Goal

Long ago, all the worlds were joined by a shining wonder called the Worldheart. When it shattered, strange shimmering bubbles appeared, and people began getting trapped inside them.

You play as Halle or Leo, two brave explorers. Your mission is to travel across the Lost Worlds, pop the bubbles and rescue the friends trapped inside. Many of the friends you rescue join your team and help you along the way.

Each world has its own map of levels. Finish a level to unlock the next one, and reach the end of a world to meet its gentle giant.

Aiming and Shooting

• Touch and drag anywhere on the board to aim. A dotted aim line shows where your bubble will go.
• Let go to shoot.
• Bounce shots: your bubble bounces off the side walls. Use bounces to reach bubbles that are hard to hit directly.
• Swap: tap the bubble next to your shooter to swap your current bubble with the next one.

Matching and Dropping

• Land your bubble next to bubbles of the same color. When 3 or more match, they pop!
• Any bubbles left hanging with nothing holding them up will drop. Dropping lots of bubbles at once earns big points.
• Watch the line: if the bubbles reach the dotted line near the bottom, the level is lost.

Goals, Stars and Score

Every level shows its goal before you start. A goal might be:

• Clear all the bubbles
• Rescue everyone trapped in bubbles
• Find every map piece
• Cut all the vines
• Pop or drop a set number of bubbles
• Calm a gentle giant (boss levels)

Stars

Bonus challenges are shown on each level card. For example: win with bubbles left over, drop lots of bubbles in one shot, or reach a target score.

Score: you earn points for every bubble you pop and drop, with extra points for rescues, map pieces and bigger drops. When you finish the goal, every bubble you have left adds 50 bonus points.

Shots Left

Each level gives you a set number of bubbles to shoot, shown under your shooter. Plan your shots carefully. If you run out before the goal is complete, you can try again.

Hearts

• You have up to 5 hearts.
• Starting a level uses 1 heart.
• Hearts refill on their own: 1 heart every 15 minutes.
• Some rewards give Unlimited Hearts for a while, so you can play as much as you like.

Power-Ups

Power-ups unlock as you progress through the early levels. You can use up to 4 power-ups per level, including boss levels.

Helpers and Perks

Tap the Perks button during a level to see your helpers and power-ups in one place.

Helpers are free abilities brought by friends you rescue. Each one starts charged and recharges as you pop bubbles. Helpers never count toward the power-up limit. Your first helper is Captain Riley's Pathfinder, a long aim line that shows every bounce for your next 5 shots. Other helpers you can meet include:

• AnalyzerShows your next 3 bubbles and tunes the two in hand to useful colors.
• Cannon ShotLoads a free cannonball that blasts a cross.
• Royal RescueFrees the trapped friend nearest the top, or breaks the toughest blockers.
• Ancient EchoReveals every hidden bubble and opens every seal.
• Royal CommandCalls in 3 extra bubbles.
• Tidal ShiftWashes the lowest bubbles into the color you are holding.
• OverchargeCharges up a free bomb bubble.
• StarburstLoads a free starburst that paints a ring of bubbles one color.
• Explorer's InstinctCuts a trail to the nearest trapped friend or map piece.
• Case SolverPoints out the best shot on the board.
• Time ShiftUndoes your last shot.

Bosses: Calm the Gentle Giants

At the end of each world you meet a gentle giant. They aren't bad, just upset, and your job is to calm them.

• Each giant has a glowing heart in the middle of the bubbles, protected by a shield.
• Break the shield, then land bubbles right next to the glowing heart.
• Boss battles come in phases. Each time you finish a phase, the board changes and the next phase begins.
• When the last phase is done, the giant is calmed and you earn a Heart Crystal.

Special Bubbles and Obstacles

You will meet these as you explore:

• Trapped friendsPop the bubbles around them, or drop them, to set them free.
• Map piecesClear a path to them to collect them.
• Bomb bubblesPop them to blast the bubbles around them.
• Rainbow bubblesTake on the color of the bubbles they touch.
• VinesWrap bubbles so they can't pop. Hit a vine, or pop bubbles next to it, to cut it free. Thick vines need two cuts.
• Misty bubblesHide their color until you pop bubbles next to them.
• Sealed bubblesLocked until you pop a bubble of the same color right beside them.
• ShieldsTough blockers. Some need more than one hit to break.
• BarriersSturdy blocks that don't pop. Clear the bubbles holding them up so they fall.
• GearsFixed in place and never pop, so plan your shots around them.
• Lightning bubblesClear one to clear its whole row.
• Time bubblesFree one to get 2 extra bubbles to shoot.
• Spreading bubblesGrow onto nearby bubbles every few shots. Clear them early!
• Moving bubbles and currentsOn some levels, bubbles drift or rows shift sideways every few shots.
• WavesOn some levels, a new wave of bubbles arrives after you clear the board.

Coins, Blue Shards and Heart Crystals

• Coins are earned by winning levels. You get more for your first win and for earning new stars. Use coins to buy power-ups and many wardrobe items.
• Blue Shards are rarer. Earn them by getting 3 stars on a level for the first time, finishing big rescue levels, calming a boss, and for every 10 stars you collect. Blue Shards buy special items, heart refills, power-ups and Gold Coins.
• Heart Crystals come from calming bosses. Spend them in the Crystal Shop, where each boss's own Boss Gear unlocks after you calm it. Story progress and Heart Crystals can never be bought.

The Wardrobe and Closet

• Visit the Wardrobe in the shop to dress up your explorer with hair styles, outfits, hats, glasses, scarves, satchels and more.
• Tap any item to try it on before you buy it.
• Everything you own lives in your Closet, where you can change your look any time for free.

Daily Rewards

Come back each day for a daily reward. Rewards follow a 7-day loop and can include coins, power-ups or Unlimited Hearts time. The last day of the loop has the biggest reward.

Quick Tips

1. Look before you shoot. Follow the aim line and look for a bounce shot.
2. Drop, don't just pop. Popping bubbles near the top can drop big groups for lots of points.
3. Use Swap. If your current color doesn't help, swap it for the next one.
4. Save shots. Every bubble left at the end adds bonus points toward your stars.
5. Charge your helpers. Helpers are free and recharge as you play, so use them often.
6. Mind the line. Keep the lowest bubbles away from the dotted line.
7. Replay for stars. You can replay any level to earn missing stars, plus coins for each new star.